The Christmas season is already in full swing! Take a quick look around, and you’ll see people getting themselves into the holiday spirit. Your neighbors are probably already flooding their doors with wreaths and Christmas lights, and stores are mostly decorated with Christmas trees. On the other hand, there are ones who have a hard time getting into the holiday spirit. Some people don’t actively participate in the holiday season because Christmas can be pretty expensive, or so they thought.
Christmas may be the most festive season, but it’s also been perceived as the most expensive time of the year. Perhaps because Christmas is the time when people splurge their money on foods, gifts, decorations, and parties. But the truth is, getting into the holiday spirit and celebrating the holidays shouldn’t have to break the bank. The essence of celebrating Christmas is about spending time with your loved ones and sharing whatever you can.
Here are eight low-cost ways you can celebrate and enjoy the holidays without compromising your budget:
1) DIY Christmas Cards
Perhaps the costliest expenses during Christmas comes from gifts. This is true, especially if you’re planning to buy gifts for so many people. For anyone budgeting through holidays, you can opt to create your own Christmas cards and send them off to your loved ones. This may not be as fancy as store-bought gifts, but your card messages will surely be enough to touch the heart of your friends and family.
2) Consider Regifting
Some people consider regifting as a rude gesture. However, you can still consider this option as long as you follow the regifting rules. If you got a gift last year that’s unwanted or never used, regift it to someone who could get more value out of it. Just make sure you never regift it to the person who gave it to you or anyone within your social circle to avoid the awkwardness. Lastly, never regift a gift that has been used, opened, or damaged.
3) Enjoy Christmas Light Displays
Just because you can’t afford to buy your own Christmas lights doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy them. Set a time (preferably evening) with your family and friends, and together you can drive around your neighbors’ fancy Christmas light displays or enjoy the ones at the city parks. For a better experience, you can take some sweet snacks and hot chocolates with you to enjoy as you watch the Christmas lights dance in different colors with matching Christmas music.
4) Join a Community Party
Check if there are organizations in your neighborhood that could host a community event. If there’s one and you haven’t joined before, make sure to sign up this year and show off your best homemade cookies. This will give you a chance to taste and enjoy the Christmas season with your neighbors, which is a great opportunity to make friends.
5) Decorate Wisely
It’s a known fact that some decorations are pretty expensive. Instead of buying new ornaments, simply reuse the ones you had last year, or better yet, create your own. Let your children join the fun by allowing them to help in making decorations and DIY wreaths. You could even use your children’s toys by hanging them on the Christmas tree. If you still have a minimal budget for a Christmas tree, you can use your old Christmas lights to create a Christmas tree figure on the wall.
6) Utilize Your Thanksgiving Leftovers
If you celebrated your Thanksgiving and had plenty of leftovers, especially when it comes to ingredients, you can reuse them to prepare your Christmas meals. Just make sure to preserve them properly so they’re still edible and can still be presented in a good way.
7) Visit Santa Claus
Taking pictures with Santa Claus has always been a family tradition for most people. Take your kids and the entire family to the park or mall and visit Santa Claus. Taking pictures with Santa Claus is usually free, but make sure to say hello and show your appreciation too.
8) Sing Christmas Songs Together
If you don’t have a good sound system or you don’t have Christmas song records, you can still listen to Christmas carols by singing them yourself. Gather your family or friends and sing Christmas songs together or, better yet, go Christmas caroling around the neighborhood.
The Takeaway
Celebrating the holiday season without spending a vast fortune is possible. Try out these ideas, have fun celebrating Christmas, and create new memories without worrying about your budget or going into debt.
